Education Commons^™

Teaching Listening Skills To Pre-Referral Students To Decrease Full Child Study Team Referrals, Karen E. Garnett

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the teaching of listening skills as a way to possibly decrease full referrals to the Child Study Team. The subjects were regular first grade students in four different classrooms. The procedure consisted of teachers using specific interventions to maintain focus, increase concentration, decrease distractibility and improve academic achievement. A comparison was made between pre and posttest scores on checklists, a comprehension passage, repeating and performing two and three-step directions, and anecdotal records. Conclusions can be drawn from the results, that students who are taught effective listening skills will demonstrate positive growth in focus, concentration and academic achievement; …

The Effectiveness Of A Social Skills Program, Sharon D. Hetzell

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to test the effectiveness of a social skills program to reduce aggressive behavior in special education students. The need for such intervention has been established, however, the empirical evidence to support educational programs which promote effective social skills is just beginning to emerge.

Instruction of social problem solving and role-play activities were used in this intervention. Alternatives to aggression were taught and role-played daily for a five week period. Two special education students from a resource room were the subjects of the study. Pre and post intervention assessment was conducted by students and teachers. Time outs …

What Determines A "Severe Discrepancy?": An Analysis Of Discrepancy Factors In Determining Eligibility For Classification As Perceptually Impaired In Four New Jersey School Districts, Robin G. Dolan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to review heterogeneous school districts in an attempt to analyze discrepancy factors used by districts in determining eligibility for classification as perceptually impaired in New Jersey. A record review of child study team confidential files was conducted in four school districts to research the methodology of the classification of perceptually impaired. A total of 80 student files with an initial classification of perceptually impaired within the last 3 years were evaluated for the severe discrepancy factor In each of the districts, 20 files were selected randomly for the research.

The data gathered from the …

A Comparison Of The Rates Of Progress Between Low Achieving And High Achieving Fourth Grade Children Using A Whole Language Reading Program, M. Ayako Loder

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the rates of progress between low achieving and high achieving fourth grade children using a whole language reading program. Subjects were fourth grade students at a Bridgeton Elementary School, grouped into low and high ability groups each containing 7 students. Reading instruction was provided during 90 minute class periods 5 times each week for 24 weeks. Instruction centered on reading short stories and trade books considered appropriate for fourth graders. Subjects completed a pre- and post-test using the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement in reading and spelling. A holistically scored writing example was completed in the fall …

A Study Of General Education Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Ability To Provide Effective Instruction In An Inclusive Model, Judith A. Myers

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine if general educators felt they were meeting the diverse needs of classified students in the mainstream setting. The sample consisted of twenty teachers from an elementary school in an affluent community. The classification of the special education students ranged from perceptually impaired to emotionally disturbed. A questionnaire consisting of four open ended questions was distributed and content analysis methodology was used to analyze the responses. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed felt they had a positive experience teaching the special education student, while thirty percent expressed negative experiences and fifteen percent of the …

A Comparative Study Of The Attitudes Of Experienced Vs Inexperienced Teachers Toward Inclusion, Danielle Dicken

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the preference for a disability teachers with previous experience teaching included students have versus teachers with no experience teaching special education students in the regular classroom. It was hypothesized that (a) teachers who have taught included students will have no significant preference level for a specific disability; and (b) teachers with no experience teaching included students will have a definite level of preference.

The study uses a descriptive design. A total of 50 teachers were surveyed among three districts. Twenty surveys from the experienced group and 20 surveys from the inexperienced group …

A Study To Compare The Effectiveness Of A Response Cost Approach And A Traditional Approach To Behavior Modification With An Add Child, Maureen T. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to compare the effectiveness of a response cost approach and a traditional approach to behavior modification. The subject is a seven year old boy diagnosed with characteristics of ADD. Baseline data was collected for five consecutive school days Three behaviors were targeted. Intervention consisted of six weeks of traditional behavior modification involving an individual sticker chart when filled earning computer time followed by six weeks of response cost involving the removal of chips for negative behaviors. Remaining chips could be exchanged far computer time at the end of each day.

The results of …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The Reading Recovery Program Compared To A Traditional Bsi Program, Karen K. Garrison

Theses and Dissertations

Children enter first grade eager to read, but reading is a complex task. Some children require a remedial reading intervention to acquire the reading skills necessary to be successful. This study hypothesized that the direct individualized instruction supplied through the Reading Recovery program would help children attain higher levels of achievement than a traditional small group Basic Skills Program.

Eight children in the bottom 20% of their first grade class were divided into two groups. Four received the strategy-driven Reading Recovery intervention, and four received the skills-oriented BSI intervention, Pre and post intervention data was collected for both groups using …

Transition Services And Their Effectiveness, John E. Mccarty

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if transition services as they are currently performed in a large suburban regional high school district are effective in helping classified students make the transition to the world beyond high school.

A review of current literature on transition shows that services vary in scope and effectiveness from state to state and from district to district. Interviews with district personnel reveal no follow-up once a student has left the district through graduation or "aging out."

A survey instrument was compiled and mailed to 200 former students who were classified while attending school in …

Support Services And Accommodations Provided For College Students With Learning Disabilities, Mary C. Tortorici

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research project was to compile a listing of support services available and accommodations provided for college students with learning disabilities from a selected sample of surveyed four year colleges and universities. This information will be used in conjunction with other research being conducted by the Special Education Department at Rowan College in order to provide the college's Department of Specialized Services with recommendations for support services with this population at Rowan College.

The number of students with learning disabilities attending college since the late 1980s has increased dramatically. Several factors account for this increase, but the …

Does Mainstreaming Positively Influence Academic Achievement And Self-Concept At The Elementary Level?, Tracy L. Morse

Theses and Dissertations

Within the past decade and a half, considerable discussion has occurred regarding the most appropriate setting within which to educate students with disabilities.

This study looks at classified students in two different settings. It will compare the academic achievement levels and self-concept of students who are classified P.I. and receive instruction in a regular class with in-class support to those students who are classified P.I. and receive instruction in a self-contained classroom.

There are 12 participants in this study. Seven of the participants are in a self-contained classroom. All are of 3rd or 4th grade level. Two participants are in …

A Survey Of Special Education Students' Preferences For Placement In The Educational Continuum, Margaret Dipalma

Theses and Dissertations

Inclusion of special education students in the regular classroom setting is an issue that has caused much debate over the past decade. Many school districts have approached this issue by offering a continuum of services while others are slowly eliminating all self-contained classrooms. These special education students are placed in a resource center program which provides in-class support in the regular classroom. The decision-making process for student placement in the least restrictive environment has involved the education professionals and the child's parents. Rarely is the student's preference in the placement decision ever considered.

The purpose of this survey was to …

Teacher Expectations Of Bilingual Education Students In Mainstream Classes, Diana C. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if regular education teachers have lower expectations for bilingual students who have been in bilingual programs than for bilingual students who have not. Also, will the expectations of the teachers change as the teacher becomes more familiar with the student?

The sample consisted of twenty elementary classroom teachers from five different elementary schools. A teacher rating scale was devised to identify student behaviors in the following areas: Educational, Social Skills, Behavior, and Home. During the second week of school, each teacher was asked to complete the rating sheet on two students. One …

A Study In The Effectiveness Of A Developmental Kindergarten In Promoting Academic Achievement In Pupils Identified As Developmentally Not Ready For School, Lynn A. Wildrick

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to determine if participation in a year long developmental kindergarten prior to school entry would prove beneficial in promoting academic achievement. A screening of all kindergarten-age eligible children the spring prior to school entry, utilizing the Childcraft DIAL-R Screening Test, identified students considered to be developmentally young. The subjects in this longitudinal study were comprised of identified students that either participated in the developmental kindergarten prior to school entry or, due to parental objections, chose to go directly into the traditional kindergarten. Outcome measures utilized included teacher assigned report card grades as a functional …

Does Mainstreaming Positively Influence Academic Achievement And Self-Concept At The Elementary Level?, Priscilla Hanzok

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine if mainstreaming would have a positive influence on the self-concept and reading achievement of learning disabled students. Pre- and post-testing was given to 17 third and fourth grade special education students. The control group consisted of 7 learning disabled students who were in a self-contained classroom. The experimental group consisted of 10 learning disabled students who were mainstreamed.

A standardized achievement test was given to the students, with the pre-test and post-test given one year apart. The reading portion of the test was used for assessment. A self-concept scale was also given to each …

A Longitudinal Assessment Of The Educational Status Of Children Enrolled In A Title I Preschool Program, Mary L. Corriveau

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempts to determine if children who have been through the Title I Preschool program require less special services than the rest of the district in subsequent years. The sample consisted of children who had been through the Title I Preschool program during the 1991-1992 school year through the 1997-1998 school year and are still currently enrolled in the Gloucester Township School District. Computer records were used to check the number of children who had received the benefit of the Title I Preschool program and were receiving services as of Oct. 15, 1998. The percentage of Title I students …

Academic Achievement And Divorce, Christine M. Neilio

Theses and Dissertations

Divorce is a major crisis in the life of a child and can lead to a decline in academic achievement. Numerous studies indicate that children of divorce show lower academic achievement than those from intact families. Studies have shown that children from one parent families score lower on achievement tests but the reasons for the test scores vary based on the individual situation.

Educational systems can play an important role in helping children of divorce deal with their problems. Teachers and counselors are very important to the success or failure of children in coping with problems associated with divorce. Since …

Does Learning Style Instruction Have A Positive Effect On Academic Achievement In The First Grade?, Nancy D. Rosenberg, Pamela M. Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of learning style instruction when implemented in a typical first grade classroom setting. The study was designed to determine if the use of several learning style methodologies would produce an increase in academic achievement.

Two regular first grade classes were used as the Study and Control Groups. Each student in the Study Group was surveyed to discover possible learning styles present within the group. For approximately six months, the Study Group received instruction which was modified, wherever possible, to allow for each student's individual needs. During this period, the Control …

Specific Strategy Instruction To Enhance Revising And Editing Skills For The Learning Disabled, Barbara J. Stubbs

Theses and Dissertations

For years, research and replications of research have supported the findings that grammar taught in isolation is at best ineffective. As a result, some teachers have abandoned grammar instruction altogether. Other teachers are unaware of the findings or simply choose to ignore them. With so many mildly handicapped students being placed in regular education classes, these curricular decisions are having an impact on their success in producing correct written communication.

This study compares eleven learning disabled seventh grade students taught in the mainstream with traditional grammar instruction to nine learning disabled peers taught in a resource center with specific strategy …

The Efficacy Of An Alternative School, Celeste Wilden

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines a self-contained day school for emotionally disturbed adolescents by evaluating whether changes produced by the intervention result in practical personally and socially worthwhile improvements. Such evaluation, often called social validation (Kazden, 1977) involves determining whether the changes have brought the student's performance within acceptable levels. Social validation deals with how closely the student's functioning fits expectations of appropriate performance in society (Haring & McCormick, 1990). This hypothesis was tested by the results of a questionnaire given to graduates from the program since DYFS withdrew its funding in 1983. Success was defined as having the ability to support …

Kindergarten Curriculum, Kelly-Ann Grossman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to develop a kindergarten curriculum suitable for a rural disadvantaged full-day kindergarten program. This was accomplished by a review of literature including five major theories of curriculum: the enrichment curriculum, the directed teaching curriculum, the cognitive emphasis curriculum, the custodial care curriculum and the combination curriculum. A combination curriculum was decided on and specific curriculums were reviewed for further content and design. Curriculums from nearby schools were reviewed and blended with the textbooks and areas of content felt necessary by the school's kindergarten teachers.

An Investigation Of The Effectiveness Of Behavioral Strategies Applied To Students In Inclusive Education Settings, Theresa Thum Gerber

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop strategies for regular education teachers to use in order to control the behavior/attention problems exhibited by some classified students included in their classrooms.

The study consisted of five regular education teachers, grades three through seven, and twelve classified students from Southampton Township Schools, New Jersey. The teachers were obtained through a letter which asked for teachers to volunteer who had classified students exhibiting behavior problems.

Success of the implemented strategies were measured through a pretest, posttest design using the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale-28 (CTRS-28). Analysis of the pretest results and teacher input …

The Impact Of An In-Class Support Program On Regular And Special Education Teachers, Cheryl A. Marino

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an in-class support program on teachers. The subjects of this study were six pairs of teachers consisting of one regular educator and one special educator. To solicit participation, cover letters and a narrative survey instrument were mailed to each of the twelve educators. The responses were analyzed using content analysis. Most responses provided positive feedback on in-class support programs. There are some concerns for future implementation of these programs.

The Effectiveness Of Prereferral Interventions Through Pupil Assistance Committees On Academic And Behavioral Needs Of Students, Barbara G. Fletcher

Theses and Dissertations

The general purpose of the study was to determine if prereferral interventions, through a PAC team, were effective in adding to the ability of a school to respond to a broad range of students' academic and behavioral needs. The population of this study consisted of 31 students. These fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students were referred to their elementary school's PAC team for behavioral and academic needs. PAC records were analyzed for information including the problems and reasons for referral, the goals of the teachers, suggested interventions, the results of each meeting, and the success of the interventions. Both a …

Self-Recording Of Attention And Its Effects On Achievement, Harvey N. Gross

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine if self-recording of attention to task after cueing improves the performance of learning disabled students. Subjects were fifty-two students in two eighth grade American History classes. The experimental group (n=25) of students had within it a subgroup of thirteen students classified perceptually impaired with moderate to severe attention disorder. Another subgroup of twelve non-learning disabled students within the same class received intervention. The control group (n=27) were all regular education students. Both groups were taught the same lessons using similar formats. A serious limitation of this study is that a small convenience …

Effect Of Computer Assisted Instruction On Written Expressive Language Of Mildly Mentally Retarded Students, Vicki R. Newman

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of computer assisted instruction on the written expressive language of mildly mentally retarded students was investigated. The quality of written work samples produced using paper and pencil was determined and compared to the quality of the expressive language samples produced on the computer after computer assisted instruction was implemented. Attitude toward writing with both modes of expression was measured. The results indicated that computer assisted instruction improved the quality of written expressive language in the areas of product length, legibility and mechanical construction. It did not significantly improve the content, complexity or thematic maturity of ideas produced on …

A Study Of Characteristics In Learning Disabled Dropouts Who Have Returned To Adult Education Programs, Deborah A. Ciapanna

Theses and Dissertations

The first purpose of this study is to identify common characteristics in a sample population of learning disabled dropouts who have returned to an adult basic education program. The second purpose is to identify characteristics of this same population which are attributed to their success in an adult education program. If we examine the information as reported by those learning disabled individuals who have been unsuccessful in completing their education, warning signals may be identified for other potential dropouts. Intervention strategies could also be created to encourage learning disabled students to stay in school. In addition, strategies may be developed …

Cognitive Apprenticeship: Authentic Problem-Solving Experiences Challenges Traditional Isolated Learning Outcomes, Nancy R. Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine if seventh grade basic skills and special education students who experienced different teaching styles would demonstrate an increased ability to solve problems on a criterion-referenced test. Pre and posttesting requiring multiple choice responses were given to a sample of 27 seventh grade students. The Control group consisted of 11 BSI students while the experimental group of sixteen students contained 6 classified, 2 ESL students, and 8 borderline BSI students.

A task performance project, Games-Recycled Math, in which students of the experimental group planned, designed, and constructed a mathematical game, was designed and implemented …